diff --git a/spindle/config/config.go b/spindle/config/config.go
index 854159ad..3d50e2c1 100644
--- a/spindle/config/config.go
+++ b/spindle/config/config.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/bluesky-social/indigo/atproto/syntax"
 	"github.com/sethvargo/go-envconfig"
@@ -46,8 +47,8 @@ type OpenBaoConfig struct {
 }
 
 type NixeryPipelines struct {
-	Nixery          string `env:"NIXERY, default=nixery.tangled.sh"`
-	WorkflowTimeout string `env:"WORKFLOW_TIMEOUT, default=5m"`
+	Nixery          string        `env:"NIXERY, default=nixery.tangled.sh"`
+	WorkflowTimeout time.Duration `env:"WORKFLOW_TIMEOUT, default=5m"`
 }
 
 type Config struct {
diff --git a/spindle/engines/nixery/engine.go b/spindle/engines/nixery/engine.go
index 24135263..e754fd67 100644
--- a/spindle/engines/nixery/engine.go
+++ b/spindle/engines/nixery/engine.go
@@ -122,14 +122,7 @@ func (e *Engine) InitWorkflow(twf tangled.Pipeline_Workflow, tpl tangled.Pipelin
 }
 
 func (e *Engine) WorkflowTimeout() time.Duration {
-	workflowTimeoutStr := e.cfg.NixeryPipelines.WorkflowTimeout
-	workflowTimeout, err := time.ParseDuration(workflowTimeoutStr)
-	if err != nil {
-		e.l.Error("failed to parse workflow timeout", "error", err, "timeout", workflowTimeoutStr)
-		workflowTimeout = 5 * time.Minute
-	}
-
-	return workflowTimeout
+	return e.cfg.NixeryPipelines.WorkflowTimeout
 }
 
 func workflowImage(deps map[string][]string, nixery string) string {